Norwich holiday season starts with City Hall lighting, parade

Tuesday

Nov 26, 2013 at 10:47 PMNov 26, 2013 at 10:47 PM

By Adam Bensonabenson@norwichbulletin.com (860) 908-7004

NORWICH — Two of Norwich’s long-standing holiday staples are returning to their traditional time slots, using one another to build momentum for what organizers hope is a weekend full of downtown activity — and plenty of Santa sightings.

And in addition to Light Up City Hall on Friday and the Winter Festival Parade on Saturday afternoon, a new road race is scheduled for Saturday morning to help boost attendance even more.

“2011 was the first year we tried to combine them, and I think people like the tradition of coming the day after Thanksgiving to start off the season,” said Jill Smith, who is coordinating the Light Up City Hall event. “We’re really hoping it’s going to be a double success for both events.”

Activities begin at 4 p.m. Friday with magician Richard Rothstein and continue through 5:30, when more than 6,000 bulbs are switched on to illuminate City Hall every night through Jan. 1. Saint Nick will arrive at dark to help pull the switch.

Smith, who is originally from Texas, said she’s among those who have turned the popular gathering into an annual family ritual.

“We are known as the Christmas City, and this is just carrying on the tradition,” Smith said. “I remember bringing my girls in years ago when they were just toddlers, and I thought it was a neat experience. It’s just bonding together to begin the season, and I think it’s a tradition that should stay.”

Parade chairman David Wigfield said officials are expecting 15 floats, a half dozen dance troupes and several marching plans led by Norwich Free Academy to fill the streets of downtown Saturday for an event that last year drew about 2,000 people.

It steps off at 1 p.m. at Chelsea Parade.

Wigfield said the Winterfest 5K race to benefit the Reliance House — which starts at 10:30 a.m. from NFA — should bring about 500 more runners and families into the city for the parade.

Registered runners include Central Connecticut State University’s Sam Alexander and former UConn star Will Sanders.

With other seasonal festivities like last weekend’s O’Tis a Festival at Otis Library, Wigfield said there’s a growing effort to build more programs to capitalize on Norwich’s holiday spirit.

“The ultimate goal is to have a whole month’s worth of Norwich activities,” Wigfield said. “But for now, we’re focused on the parade, and it’s shaping up to be a real good one.”